In Jesus Beltran's 'Motos,' two immigrant logger cousins uncover a life-altering revelation.

      Jesus Beltran’s latest short film "Motos" revolves around two immigrant cousins who are not without flaws — because imperfection is part of the human experience.

      Beltran, a first-generation Mexican-American who works both as an engineer and a filmmaker, abhors racist representations of immigrants in movies and in reality, particularly as these depictions are often used to legitimize ICE raids at homes, workplaces, and schools. He also feels that overly virtuous portrayals in Hollywood can be so disingenuous that they fail to benefit anyone.

      “Very few individuals are saints, yet we often depict immigrants as if they are in our narratives because we’re hesitant to depict reality,” he states. “I understand that opportunistic figures like Hitler and Trump have built entire racist nationalist movements on fabricated stories of immigrants as criminals or rapists, and their followers consume these narratives. It’s disheartening yet also absurd because these claims are evidently false and statistically unlikely — with all crime and population data supporting that.”

      He continues: “But people can be foolish — and racist — and disregarding those traits only perpetuates the problem. Personally, as a storyteller, I find these saintly depictions to be untrue and submissive, and they haven’t proven helpful since we’re still in this situation, right? I just want to keep it real because I genuinely believe that the truth leads to a deeper understanding more quickly.”

      "Motos" establishes a sense of realism from the start, as two cousins, played by Bobby Soto and Rafael Cobos Delgado, begin their day in their modest RV in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, trying to make a living as loggers.

      One cousin is a Mexican-American U.S. citizen, while the other is in debt to a coyote who assisted him in crossing the border. Both face hardships. On one job, they discover something that could alter their futures — or potentially drive them apart.

      Beltran, who studied engineering at Stanford and has spent over 25 years living and working in Silicon Valley, is very familiar with the Santa Cruz Mountains, as he resides there, crafting screenplays, mountain biking, and watching films with his cats.

      He has created four award-winning short films that have been showcased at Sundance, SXSW, and over 20 other film festivals, with his screenplay Americano chosen for Sundance’s Producing Labs. He co-founded and managed Desmadre.com, an arts and culture platform that has garnered over 10 million views and 100,000 followers. Currently, he is working on his feature film debut, There’s No Place, which is in the financing phase.

      "Motos" recently screened at Indianapolis’ Indy Shorts, recognized as one of MovieMaker’s 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee and 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World, and continues to have a strong run in the festival circuit. We spoke with him about empathy, small moments, and the nature of saints.

      MovieMaker: Can you elaborate on your background and your journey to becoming a filmmaker? I understand you're also an engineer at Apple. How do you juggle these two demanding roles?

      Jesus Beltran: I developed a passion for movies early on, spending hours watching cable TV, filming with a HI-8 camera, and working at a video store by the age of 16. I always aspired to make films, but my genuine interest in math and science — and the security it promised after observing my Mexican immigrant parents face financial difficulties — led me to pursue mechanical engineering at Stanford. This choice led to a successful career in product design and eventually to my role at Apple, where I found fulfillment in solving technical challenges and contributing to iconic products.

      After a few years in engineering, I felt burnt out and yearned for something more creatively fulfilling, which brought me back to filmmaking. Although I considered film school, I chose to educate myself through books, classic films, and magazines like MovieMaker and its annual “Guide to Moviemaking.” In 2006, I completed my first serious short film, “The Grass Grows Green,” which was accepted into Sundance, SXSW, and various other festivals. That year, I decided to leave Apple to work as a consultant—providing me with the flexibility to pursue filmmaking more seriously, even if I wasn’t entirely prepared.

      Over the last two decades, I’ve produced four short films, written feature scripts (including one selected for the Sundance Producing Labs), and created hundreds of hours of digital content—all while maintaining a parallel career in engineering. It’s been a chaotic and unbalanced journey, filled with late nights and personal sacrifices, but it has also brought joy, collaboration, and growth.

      Eventually, I returned to Apple, where I currently work. I’ve realized I no longer need to fit into predefined roles or justify being in two fields. If anything, I've learned that you don’t have to choose between your passions; you just need to connect with those who understand you and keep